With all the conversation about upcoming MINI products we thought it a good time to re-run a poll from earlier this year.
MINI has a lot of interesting things in development right now. Some of them, like “the twins” we’ve seen. Some, like the City Car, we’ve only got bits and pieces of information for. That had us wondering. What do you, the illustrious readers of MotoringFile, get excited for?
[poll id=”22″]
<p>I really hope the “city” car (a) returns MINI to its roots (small, light, efficient, go-kart handling) and (b) isn’t just an econobox “city” car. I haven’t seen a car from MINI since the R53 that I would buy.</p>
<p>Yea, what Brian said..</p>
<p>Coupe here, a return to a more sporty character for MINI. Would love to see MINI try to salvage the jcw brand with turning out something special here. Pretty sure all we will see though anytime soon is the current kit and factory car. The city car is a close second for the same thing Brian said.</p>
<p>I’m hoping Mini City is better looking than the pic above and more like the original Mini as I have NO interest in the rest of the field.</p>
<p>The enthusiast in me is really excited about the Coupé, and therefore the ultimate high-performance factory MINI. I’m hoping that JCW surprises us all, and really takes it to a whole new level. The recent trend of JCW has been less and less extraordinary. Fingers are crossed for the end-all, be-all MINI.</p>
<p>At the same time, I’m excited to see what this smaller MINI, (City Car) will turn out to be, too. Not really for my own needs or wants, but for the good of the MINI brand. While MINI gets bigger and fatter, (Countryman), it will be nice to counter that trend with a back-to-its’-roots classic Mini-sized vehicle.</p>
<p>These are indeed exciting times for MINI and MINI fans!</p>
<p>Coupe</p>
<p>Less extraordinary? What planet are you on? The R56 JCW owns the R53 JCW in every way? Faster, handles better, better gas milage to boot. The designers have to read this stuff and scratch their heads – what exactly does this guy want?</p>
<p>I’m with “blalor”. Nothing has compared with the R53 and as a result I’m moving on to a 135i.</p>
<p>Lav, I don’t think the R56 JCW is that bad but the difference between the two are very slim. However feel in the R53 JCW is light years ahead of the R56 JCW (hopefully fixed as reported by MF with the upcoming update). The exhaust note of the two cars are both good however the sound from the front of the R56 JCW is horribly plain and boring over the scream of a supercharger. To me the R53 is the purer of the two as a drivers car. To each their own.</p>
<p>Still consider the jcw brand is needing much redirection to really establish itself in the hot hatch market.</p>
<p>@early … I think that’s what BMW really “wants” every one to do. Move up in the BMW family … lateral sales are no good ;)</p>
<p>@lavardera, I don’t think there’s much to argue with in Jon’s post. He has a preference, clearly, for the R53.</p>
<p>I identify with his <em>opinion</em> entirely, but I can also see several reasons why someone (else) would prefer an R56.</p>
<p>To each his/her own.</p>
<p>The idea that we’re all going to be in lock-step with everything BMW/MINI decides to bring to market is, forgive me, absurd. As a result, some of us will be left behind, permanently or temporarily. It’s not personal, just a reality in the marketplace.</p>
<p>Lots of enthusiasts do not find the r56 appealing or desirable in comparison to the r53… Pointing to specs why they should only emphasizes that much went wrong with the 2007-current cars.</p>
<p>Fortunately the Twins are a chance to redeem the r56 platform, the smaller “city car” even more so, and the next-gen redesign a chance to recapture the magic look and feel of the 2002-2006 cars.</p>
<p>R53 is noisier, clunkier, rawer, less refined, better proportioned and it has an undeniably better engine sound.
So see it how you want it, the R53 in all its versions, (standard, jcw ,GP ) will be remembered in time as the great BMW E30 m3 is today. It sill will be great to drive, because its a simpler car.</p>
<p>R56… naaa
So you could say that the R56 is more refined, gentler, more sophisticated and probably better designed…. those are good things too. Just that the sum of all parts didn’t add up to the R53.</p>
<p>What a surprise! Mini hatch in second place. And yes,the recent trend of JCW has been less and less extraordinary compared with other MINI models (Valvetronic) and with its direct competitors, becoming stronger and more numerous.</p>
<p>Coupé and Roadster should really be one voting selection. I’m guessing there’s a lot of overlapping anticipation and the it was difficult for most of their voters to choose one over the other.</p>
<p>I’m with @early too. If I was to buy a new car right now it would be the 135i. Even a 128i would be okay.</p>
<p>By biggest hangup with the roadster is that it reminds me so much of the Z3, and the Z3 was such a cool car. When the roadster comes out and I compare a 230 HP, RWD, inline 6, to the 1.6L out of the JCW, the Z3 will win. Plus, you can pick up a Z3 3.0i with some miles on for around 10K. That said, I voted for the roadster. I cant wait to prove myself wrong.</p>
<p>All of you complainers will end up not liking the coupe either, because it will still essentially be an R56. Its predictable, and hence why I believe your opinions loose more and more credibility and relevancy. The R53 has been enshrined its over. Its not coming back any more than BMW will build an E30 again.</p>
<p>People want the R53 to come back? Shoot, some still want BMW to make the 2002 again. Folks need to appreciate the past for what it was, but they don’t have to live there.</p>
<p>However, for me it is a moot point as I have a 2009 factory JCW Clubman. There was never a supercharged version of this model, so there is nothing to pine for. Further, lots of JCW-specific badging, to me, is not desirable. I’m not after boy-racer tackons that attract attention. I just like to know that I can haze the tires with ease and carve corners. The fact that it’s not obvious that it is really a performance car is fine with me.</p>
<p>I think the Coupe will be the new reference point. It should be lighter, slicker and have less frontal area than any other MINI. However, a new Clubman based on the Countryman has little appeal for me. Basically what I have is a slightly heavier and less twitchy R56. Somehow I don’t think that’s what you would get with a Countryman-based version.</p>
<p>Actually BMW is building the 1M specifically to recover a lot that has been lost since the brand has evolved. Lav just because some of us appreciate other things about the R53 over the R56 does not make anyone a complainer. Time to grow up bud and stop trying to label anybody that has a view different from your own. To me I look forward to the R58 as a lighter car with the R56’s steering being improved by the refesh, not to mention the interior changes. If noting that the R53 has better feel makes one a complainer think your also trying to label Gabe as one too since I have read on several occasions that despite the R56 being more refined that he feels some feel has been lost too.</p>
<p>Yes we all have individual preferences, however, isn’t it amazing how after 5 model years the R53 vs R56 debate rages on?</p>
<p>The R53 was incredibly special in that it still captured the original Mini “feel”. It’s styling inside(especially) and out is timeless and unmatched.</p>
<p>Yeah, the R56 is a little quicker. But it’s a watered down car designed to sell a zillion units as opposed to the R53 which seemed to be a true labor of love designed for enthusiests. And the R56 offshoots? Not for me. The point that the Coupe’ will still be an R56 is well made.</p>
<p>What will Mini do for the next incarnation of hatchback? Faster? Likely. Lighter? Maybe. More attractive than R56? Possibly/hopefully. Back to what the R53 was? Never. If you got one like I do, garage it and keep it nice because it’s a classic that eventually will escalate in value.</p>
<p>I’m an owner of a very nicely modded R53 (pulley, airbox, intercooler, cat-back, suspension, brakes, +++). I love the simplicity and rawness of the engine. I also have to admit that a stock turbo R56 was able to keep up with me (mostly) in the straighter sections of the track. That engine puts down some nice power.</p>
<p>I had an R56 for a week as a loaner and found it to be a much more comfortable daily driver, but I was still overjoyed when I got my baby back. I have issues with the R56 and it doesn’t feel as ‘MINI’ as my R53. Lots of classic Mini owners said the same thing about my car when it came out, and I can’t blame ’em… that’s their opinion and they are entitled to it. It is their preference for the smaller, simpler car that keeps their interest in the Classic Mini. An R56 driver still has a car that is very MINI and much more exciting than 99% of the other cars on the road in the US.</p>
<p>I’m always happy to see MINI come out with new variants and bring more people to the brand. Right now, I don’t see much in the lineup to tempt me to trade in my R53 unless my needs/desires in a car change as well. Perhaps an All4 Countryman S and I can preserve the R53 for track or weekend fun… that might be nice! 😀 Maybe I do need to take a trip to the dealership…</p>
<p>I’m curious what Mini execs say when the whole R53 feels more Mini than the R56? Has anyone really asked and what is their response. Do they say that their future goal is to get that R53 “feel” back? Do they know that these voices are out there?</p>
<p>I’m a bit late to the convo…. Supposedly, MINI reads this blog and it does influence their decisions a bit. Does that mean they’re going to make a more raw MINI hatch? Doubtful, but it may mean the Coupe is closer to what R53ers want: not exactly, but closer.</p>
<p>I’m excited about the Coupe. I’m really thinking about buying one. It won’t replace INDI, my R50, but it’ll sit right there next to her in the garage.</p>
<p>Maybe the MINI E… I want to have high hopes for the city car, but I know the various safety regs will never all it to be the ‘classic’ style car I want to be. I’m having this vision of a MINI-styled Smart…</p>
<p>I can sort of tolerate the R56, but the interior still bugs me…</p>
<p>BMW hasn’t built a car I’d buy since hte Z4 M Coupe. It will be a cold day in hell before I buy a car with iDrive.</p>